Artist Series: Only NY
During my time at Classic Specs — an artist-inspired eyewear brand — I sourced, interviewed, and wrote stories on artists and creative professionals living in Brooklyn, NY. This one features Only NY, a limited-edition streetwear brand.
Writing & interview by Rachel Cantrell
Photography by Angela Chan
from the piece
“The Only NY office has all the makings of a streetwear giant’s headquarters. There are boldly-painted skateboard decks bordering every inch of the office walls. There are witty stickers plastered everywhere – the same ones that we’ve definitely seen before on the New York City streets. And the founders pull off really cool hats. Effortlessly.
But this isn’t just about streetwear, although Only NY is arguably one the best brands in the game. It’s about a ten-year dream in the making – one that started from a college kid with an idea (and five simple t-shirts) and grew into a full-blown streetwear mainstay, with the bragging rights of collaborations with everyone from Greats and Vans to the City of New York. The born-and-bred NYC lifestyle of the small, tight-knit team of artists and creatives at Only NY – including co-founders Micah Belamarich and Julian Goldstein, along with designer Lukas Witek – bleeds through in every hat, t-shirt, and pair of kicks that the brand releases to their dedicated fanbase. There’s a reason why Only NY feels so quintessentially New York – and that authenticity has resonated with streetwear fans around the world.”